Battery module

Abstract

A battery module includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries, end plates at outer sides of the rechargeable batteries; fixing members fixed to the end plates, each fixing member having a support step protruding from at least one side end, a reinforcement member contacting the fixing member, and a fastener fixing the fixing member and the reinforcement member to the end plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A battery module comprising:
 a plurality of rechargeable batteries adjacently arranged along a first direction; 
 end plates located at and parallel to outer sides of outermost ones of the plurality of rechargeable batteries, the outer sides being orthogonal to the first direction; 
 fixing members extending lengthwise along the first direction and fixed to the end plates, each of the fixing members being bent at a side end in a direction away from and parallel to the end plates to form a support step protruding from the side end that is parallel to the end plate; 
 reinforcement members being separate from the fixing members and each of the reinforcement members contacting an outer surface of a corresponding one of the fixing members, the outer surface extending along the first direction; and 
 a plurality of fasteners fixing the fixing members and the reinforcement members to the end plates, the plurality of fasteners extending along a direction parallel to the end plates; 
 wherein each of the plurality of fasteners penetrates through a corresponding one of the reinforcement members, a corresponding one of the fixing members, and a corresponding one of the end plates, and 
 wherein one of the reinforcement members directly contacts the support step of a corresponding one of the fixing members. 
 
     
     
       2. The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein one of the reinforcement members is fixed to one of the support steps. 
     
     
       3. The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein each of the end plates comprises a pressing plate perpendicular to the first direction and a fastening plate extending in the first direction at a side end of the pressing plate, and one of the plurality of fasteners penetrates through one of the fastening plates. 
     
     
       4. The battery module of  claim 3 , wherein each of the fixing members has a vent hole allowing a coolant to flow between the rechargeable batteries. 
     
     
       5. The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein each of the end plates comprises a pressing plate perpendicular to the first direction, an upper fastening plate extending in the first direction at an upper end of the pressing plate, a lower fastening plate extending in the first direction at a lower end of the pressing plate, one of the plurality of fasteners penetrates through the upper fastening plate, and another of the plurality of fasteners penetrates through the lower fastening plate. 
     
     
       6. The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of fasteners penetrates through a first fixing hole in one of the end plates and a second fixing hole in one of the fixing members, and the second fixing hole is larger than the first fixing hole. 
     
     
       7. The battery module of  claim 6 , wherein the one of the plurality of fasteners penetrates through a third fixing hole in one of the reinforcement members, and the second fixing hole is larger than the third fixing hole. 
     
     
       8. The battery module of  claim 7 , wherein the second fixing hole is larger in the first direction than the first fixing hole. 
     
     
       9. The battery module of  claim 8 , wherein the second fixing hole has first and second portions connected via a third portion that is narrower than each of the first and second portion. 
     
     
       10. The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of one of the reinforcement members is greater than that of one of the fixing members. 
     
     
       11. The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein one of the reinforcement members is formed of a material that is stronger than that of one of the fixing members. 
     
     
       12. The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein one of the fixing members comprises a support plate extending in the first direction and a support step protruding from an end of the support plate in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a corresponding one of the plurality of fasteners penetrates through a first fixing hole in the support plate. 
     
     
       13. The battery module of  claim 12 , wherein one of reinforcement members comprises a base and a protruding portion extending from a side end of the base, the protruding portion adjacent and parallel to the support step. 
     
     
       14. The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement members are slidable with respect to the fixing members.